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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Philippines tells China: We're asserting rights over West Philippine Sea

Philippines tells China: We're asserting rights over West Philippine Sea

Published Mar 4, 2024 02:23 am

​The Philippines on Monday, March 4, told China it is not provoking any trouble in the West Philippine Sea as its operations have always been lawful under international law.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) asserted this as Beijing claimed that Manila's actions in the waters, particularly in Bajo de Masinloc, violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.

Philippine authorities have been conducting legal operations in Bajo de Masinloc, including fishing, maritime exercises and maritime patrol, which China saw as activities that are stirring up situation in the waters.

"Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of Philippine territory over which the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction. It is also within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf," the DFA said.

"Bajo de Masinloc is a high tide feature and is a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos, which means that Filipino fishers have all the right to fish there, its 12NM (nautical mile) territorial sea and the surrounding seas within the Philippine EEZ," it added.

The DFA asserted that it is the country's duty to support and protect fishers in the exercise of its right under international law.

"Activities that infringe upon the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction in  Bajo de Masinloc and its surrounding territorial sea, are violations of international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award," it added.

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